You Move Me In a Way I've Never Known (Cr'oph)

[Ember]

Ten months, eight days. Jazheera wasn't exactly one to count days and think of anniversaries. Neither was Cr'oph. The only reason she knew the timeframe of their...relationship was because they'd gotten together shortly before the Hyphen Gather and she wasn't about to forget that anytime soon. Ten months, a week, and a day was hardly an important anniversary as far as relationships went. It just turned out to be Jazz's breaking point. Or rather, Dhavalth's breaking point. The woman had the unfortunate trait of being extremely loyal to those she cared about.

It took her blue pointing out the small things a gentleman should not be doing to the one he was courting for Jazz to even begin to see that the bronzerider was perhaps not the best choice of boyfriend. Small things like being far more interested in sex than...well, anything else to do with her. Okay, so maybe that wasn't such a small thing. Hence her current problem. Dhavalth crooned and scooted closer to His to comfort her turbulent thoughts. Better to ask him than to sit in this mood most grim, he offered sagely. His was never one to be hesitant about things.

"My dear pain in the neck, you are quite right. Do watch over Tod for me while I'm out?" With that she headed out to confront Cr'oph...and just considering how she might come across even if her suspicions were incorrect she anticipated an argument. Making a quick decision she dropped by the kitchens first if they could spare some food as a snack. It was with a couple simple meatrolls (one amusingly sticking out of her mouth as she chewed on it) that she knocked on Cr'oph's door. Things might go a little smoother with some food. At the very least she wouldn't feel quite as guilty coming to his weyr to accuse him of not caring enough.

Speaking of her weyr and his weyr...it had been almost a turn and still they kept separate weyrs and the 'closet rule' certainly was not in effect either. Just another of the things Dhavalth had pointed out to her and she'd been mulling on...

[Rei]

Cr’oph was for once actually trying to clean the mess that was his weyr. And that simply meant separating the dirty and clean clothes into their respective piles, tsking at the dirty floor, and throwing anything else into small organized piles so it wasn’t spread throughout the room. A broom? Mop? Dust rag? Nah. That was woman’s work. Maybe he’d try and convince Jazheera to clean the place properly later. Happy with his ‘clean’ weyr the bronzer made his way over to Raven’s perch and clicked his tongue at the bird, earning a ruffle of feathers and a soft coo for his trouble. Reaching out to stroke down the predatory avian’s back he almost jumped at the door knock which caused the sometimes spooky bird to take off with a cry and exit the weyr, leaving behind a flurry of feathers. “Bah. Great he’s molting again.” Cr’oph commented to no one in particular as he made his way over towards the door.

Only two people it could be really. Jazz or his brother. Either would work in this case. Opening the door and seeing no one at eye level the bronzer looked down at his diminutive girlfriend and chuckled at the roll sticking out of her mouth. “Hey there Pixie. Took a trip to the kitchens huh? Swear you eat more then me sometimes. Have no clue where you put it all though.” Giving her a seductive up and down look he winked and then stepped aside to allow her entrance to his weyr. “Raven just left so you won’t have him staring you down the entire time.” He commented with a glance towards the empty perch before a croon of greeting from Mavenath interrupted him. “Unfortunately the king of the world is still in attendance.” He commented dryly with a slight narrowing of eyes in his dragon’s direction. The bronze merely gave a loud snort and yawned widely before placing his head on his forelegs so he could better watch the humans.

Tossing his long red hair over his shoulder Cr’oph offered Jazz a playful smile. “So what’s up?”

[Ember]

Normally Jazz didn't mind so much when Cr'oph gave her his patented look-overs but at that moment, with the type of thoughts running through her mind, it only made her frown around the roll in her mouth. She drew the rest of it into her mouth and chewed it down quickly. Turns of travelling made eating quick more of a habit than anything else. When her mouth was (mostly) free of food she began to speak. "Now how could a little thing like me possibly ever eat mroe than a giant like you, hm?" She asked easily enough. Despite her dragon's misgivings she still loved being in the bronzerider's presence.

That would make it all the harder to confront him, she knew. "Besides, I brought these to share, if you want any." She drifted into his weyr, eyes immediately drifting to the empty perch even as her boyfriend confirmed that the nasty bird wasn't around. Raven unnerved her enough as it was. She certainly didn't need the bird around when she was already nervous. Jazheera glanced at Mavenath when he crooned and smiled at the bronze. Whatever Cr'oph said, she thought Mave was a nice enough dragon. No worse, really, than Dhavalth.

"What's up indeed," Jazz muttered cryptically when Cr'oph asked her. She wasn't looking at him, just generally looking around his weyr for a moment. Finally, gathering her rather substantial courage, she turned to face the bronzerider. "Cr'oph, why do you like me?" It was definitely a serious question and she noted distantly that she acknowledged even in that question that she doubted he loved her. She'd distinctly used 'like', rather than 'love' after all.

[Rei]

Cr’oph kept his eyes on Jazz as she moved into his weyr. Her frown and the look on her face didn’t go unnoticed. Hmm. His brain quickly shuffled through all their recent interactions looking for something that he had done to piss her off. There wasn’t much at all that he could come up with anyway. Maybe she was upset at someone else? Entirely likely. At any rate the bronzer chuckled at her comment. “Oh I don’t know. But you really seem to be able to put it away when you’re starving. I’m chalking it up to you having a high metabolism. Between the two of us it’s no wonder we’re running low on food and the like again.” Not really a pleasant topic of conversation at all. Not for him or his dragon. Mavenath didn’t like the fact that he wasn’t allowed to participate. He would carry just as much as the ones chosen. But apparently the council was only willing to risk one bronze at a time. Next time he would surely get his chance. Not that this made him any happier currently. The red head gave his dragon a glance before his attention turned back to the small woman standing in his weyr.

When she offered to share with him Cr’oph moved towards her and bent to press a kiss to her forehead before taking one of the meatrolls. His fingers brushed over hers purposely as he extracted it from her. Distracting her from her obviously worrisome thoughts should help. Didn’t quite understand what she was so anxious about but really it couldn’t be too bad right? Despite their precarious situation here it really wasn’t so bad. In fact it almost brought them all closer in a sense, having to rely on each other for everything. Bringing the roll up the bronzer took a large bite and chewed it thoughtfully as he waited for Pixie to gather the thoughts and speak.

One eyebrow rose at her cryptic comment but Cr’oph didn’t speak. There was no point the figured she’d get to the reason for her visit shortly enough. Instead he merely let his eyes travel her form as he enjoyed the meatroll. The man had just popped the last bit into his mouth when the bluerider finally turned to look at him and uttered her question. The first thought that ran through his head at it was simple. Oh shit. Oh shit. Okay well this wasn’t so bad. All she needed was reassurance right? That should be rather easy. For you I doubt it. Came a grumbling reply from Mavenath which Cr’oph ignored in favor of answering Jazheera. “Why do I like you? You should know that Pixie.” He commented gently, soothingly. “You’re funny, fun to be around, cute, and you have an awesome body. How could I not like you?” Indeed she was all those things. Really he couldn’t fathom why she needed reassurance but that was fine if she did. Women could be extremely silly creatures after all.

[Ember]

Cr'oph's comment about high metabolism earned a quick grin from the diminutive woman. The reminder that there was a tithe theft soon wiped it away pretty quick though. She was a bit sore that she didn't get to go on it but T'mund, of all people, did. Jazz more or less actively disliked her classmate. He was a snotty brat in her opinion. She was pretty sure he knew it too. Still, Legatus Plus One had been chosen to go as the aerial guard while the heavier beasts were chosen to take loads back to the weyr. It made sense and that was probably the only reason she wasn't complaining to E'rro or Darya or S'rei.

The bluerider hadn't been expecting Cr'oph's move to kiss her forehead. It was a sweet gesture and she half found herself melting back into the sense of easiness that seemed to follow her to all their interactions. It was like a slap in the face when Dhavalth drew their bond taught and let his actual disapproval rush through. He urged her, ever the knight, her knight, to ask and she would see. One way or another she would see. It was, Jazz thought, one thing to ignore a friend's advice. It was quite another to ignore the advice of something literally in your thoughts.

It should have been comforting. But it wasn't. Not when he said she was supposed to know the reasons already. She should...but she didn't. Had he ever put it into words? She couldn't remember. She offered a slightly tentative smiled and changed tactics. "Fine then, would you sleep with another woman? Right now? Please do be honest, Cr'oph.' Jazheera had never pleaded before. Never. But she was now, just for the simple truth whatever it was.

[Rei]

Cr’oph found himself wishing that he had something to do with his hands. Something productive. The lengthening silence was a bit unnerving. Had she even heard his reassurances? Mavenath laying sprawled upon his ledge like some massive coopery bronze statue did not help. The large male offered no advice nor distraction. Just watched the pair almost lazily though one half lidded eye. If the rider didn’t know any better he would think that the beast was getting some kind of sick enjoyment out of it. But no. The bronze was just honestly curious. The dragon liked watching the interactions of people. Watching and learning. As if something he saw would give him the key as to why humans as a species where so odd.

The bronzer’s eyes where on his dragon when Jazheera finally spoke again and his eyes flicked to the bluerider. His girlfriend and companion in this tiny weyr. Giving her a rather searching look Cr’oph cleared his throat. Those were rather dangerous questions she was asking. And she wanted honesty? Honesty he could do. Carefully worded honesty. “Sleep with another woman? Pixie who is putting thoughts in your head? Why would I do that?” Though he wasn’t going to lie to himself, he had once or twice had a dream fantasy about Elysia. Not that that was likely to ever happen in this life or the next. Especially with that one’s personality. Besides. He was pretty sure Pixie had her hidden impossible fantasies too. No need to offer that information willingly.

Stepping towards the smaller woman the bronzer gently seized her hips and pulled her closer. “No I wouldn’t sleep with anyone else right now. That answer enough for you?” Came the gentler answer as Cr’oph pressed his lips to the top of her head. Time to try and change the topic and get as far away from it as possible. “So what do you want to do today? Mave found a nice group of wild herdbeast about a half candlemark’s straight flight away. Dhavalth eat lately?”

[Ember]

Jazheera's eyes narrowed positively dangerously at Cr'oph's returning questions. Was he questioning her sanity? It sounded that way to the petite woman. If he wanted crazy she could show him that...but, no. She needed an answer first. A proper answer that she could read the truth in, and not a defensive question meant to make her question herself. The deep breath she took in then exhaled gave her a minimal amount of extra patience - a trait she was not known for - and she waited silently for him to continue.

The bluerider tried very hard not to relax into Cr'oph, to just let go of her tenseness and give in. She succeeded for the most part until the first word left his mouth. She watched his eyes for a moment before looking down with a faint frown. Answer enough, yes. Especially when he kissed her head. She leaned forward just enough so that her head rested against him and exhaled softly. Alright, all was good again. Unless there was draconic or brotherly influence she never doubted people she liked. Friends, family, lovers, whatever they may be. She didn't like doubting them in the rare occasion she did.

She retreated out of such a close embrace when Cr'oph asked what she wanted to do. She consulted with Dhavalth and was unsurprised to discover that the blue was being moody. Moody but hungry all the same. "Sounds like a plan," she told the bronzerider. "Dhavalth's being a brat but he hasn't eaten recently." She rolled her eyes a little. Poor blue was all upset he was wrong. Or he was angry at her for not seeing what he did. Jazz was a little upset to find she couldn't tell which it was.

[Rei]

Cr’oph held Jazheera closely for a few moments his hands moving from her hips to caress up her back. Words were dangerous right now. Reassurance physically was much better and he had noticed that the bluerider seemed to react to that the best. Kept her content. Content was good. At least his girlfriend seemed like she was dropping the topic. This was also a very good thing because in all honestly the bronzer really didn’t feel like further arguing about it. Besides what he said was true enough. He really wouldn’t sleep with anyone else right now. The weyr was dinky and the pool of available women was rather poor. Eyes flicked to the ledge and the large bronze sprawled upon it who was now casually looking down at the weyrbowl below.

Obviously they had become boring the minute it seemed that Jazheera had accepted his answer. Indeed you did. Came the automatically returned mental answer. Are we going to hunt or not? I could use a meal. Cr’oph rolled his eyes at the dragon grateful that Jazheera was short enough to miss the gesture and misinterpret it as directed towards her. When the woman started to pull away the bronzer reluctantly let her go and offered her a smile. “Good because Mavenath is already bitching in my head about it.” I never bitch that is your job. The redhead just narrowed his eyes at his bronze. “Seriously Mave do you always have to make some kind of comment to everything?” The large metallic male simply half turned his head to regard his with one placid whirling eye and said nothing.

Turning his gaze back to Jazz Cr’oph grinned. “Brat seems to fit them both quite often. Mave is due to eat too. I suppose we shouldn’t keep them waiting too long or we’ll just keep getting bitched at.” Dipping his head the bronzer gave the small woman a quick and light kiss and then turned from her to start towards Mavenath glancing back once to ask. “You going to ride with us or go meet up with Dhavalth and follow? Either way is good with us.” As he spoke he grabbed the riding straps he kept for everyday use and started to fix them to the large male. The bronze said nothing, instead he simply watched the woman as his bonded worked.

[Ember]

Jazz let herself fully relax during the embrace and by the time it was over she was all smiles again. She listened to Cr'oph's side of the exchange with Mavenath and laughed. "He just turned the tables on you, didn't he?" She asked, almost rhetorically. As far as she could tell, her and Dhavalth shared a more polite relatonship than the bronzepair, though he still liked to back talk her to some degree. She'd never actually asked about another rider's bond, though. It seemed a little rude.

The bluerider grinned back up at Cr'oph when he suggested they get moving. Indeed, now that Dhavalth had food mentioned to him he was raring to go and was pestering her. He probably wouldn't stay moody with her for long, especially when he got to see his adoptive brother bronze. At Cr'oph's question, Jazz consulted Dhavalth briefly. The blue brought up a good point about straps and getting back to her own weyr and such and she let out a slight sigh.

"Seems like riding with you will be better," she responded, honestly a little put out. Didn't Dhavalth realize how much bigger a bronze was? And how small she was? It would not be a comfortable ride, in all likelihood. She approached the bronze that would be her ride and tilted her head slightly. "You cool with that Mavenath? Y'know, no one ever bothers to ask the dragons what they think 'cause they usually can't hear 'em," she said, second half partially directed to Cr'oph.